NYPD detective Patrick Cherry captured on camera slamming an Uber driver and the video goes viral. Sanjay Seth, an Uber driver, made the mistake of honking at plainclothes NYPD detective Patrick Cherry, who was attempting to park without using his blinker at a green light. The angry officer went on a racist rant where he mocked the Uber driver’s accent.
The headline “NYPD detective Patrick Cherry abuses Uber driver” has put back America’s police abuse and brutality debate in the forefront. On March 30th, Sanjay Seth, an Uber driver posted a three-minute video on YouTube with the title “Police Abuse of Uber Driver in New York City.”
In the clip, which was filmed by two of Seth's passengers, it was revealed that on Monday, as he was heading to Little West 12th Street, he saw a driver trying to park without using his blinker at a green light.
The Uber driver honked at the male driver, who was dressed in a simple blue shirt and green tie, not knowing that it was a NYPD detective.
Insulted by the Uber driver's honking, Patrick Cherry, a NYPD detective pulled him over and delivered a rant of epic proportion. The officer asked the Uber driver where did he learn English, told him that is not how things are done in America and laughed at his accent. Cherry told the driver:
“I don't know where you're coming from, where you think you're appropriate in doing that; that's not the way it works. How long have you been in this country?”
The angry NYPD detective, gave a lengthy, racist and abusive monologue because out fear, the Uber driver rarely spoke only saying "OK," "OK" on few occasions. Cherry ended the one-way conversation by saying that he would not arrest the driver because he has more important things to do. The clients, who filmed that Officer abuse Uber clip, explained:
"In an unmarked car, the policeman was allegedly attempting to park without using his blinker at a green light. (His reverse lights weren't on. Likely double parked without hazards on.) The Uber driver pulled around and gestured that he should use his blinker, casually and non-offensively, and kept driving us. The policeman quickly pulls up behind us and this is what happens. This occurred just before 2pm on the West side of Manhattan, in NYPD 6th Precinct, on March 30th, 2015, near Little West 12th Street. The officer did not identify himself, but he had a New York license plate: GSS 8891."
Commissioner Bill Bratton has confirmed that the plainclothes NYPD detective was indeed in an unmarked car because he was coming from the hospital after visiting a friend. According to Bratton, NYPD detective Patrick Cherry, was part of the department’s elite Joint Terrorism Task Force and has been put on desk duty since the Uber driver drama.
Bratton had the following to say about the NYPD detective Patrick Cherry/Uber driver incident:
"No good cop should watch that video without a wince. Because all good cops know that officer just made their jobs a little bit harder.”
Further disciplinary actions will be taken against NYPD detective Patrick Cherry. The incident is being investigated by the Internal Affairs Bureau and by the Civilian Complaint Review Board. Uber's spokesperson Matt Wing issued a statement that read:
“The behavior in the video is wrong and unacceptable and we appreciate the NYPD investigating the incident. We are in touch with our driver-partner who was subjected to this terrible experience and will continue to provide any support he needs.”
The Uber driver has testified along with the two passengers who filmed the incident.
At CCRB, I spoke with an Investigator, the Chief Prosecutor, and the Executive Director. They are taking this complaint seriously.
— Sanjay Seth (@sanjayseth) April 1, 2015
Thanks to NYPD, Uber, and CCRB for a positive and constructive process. -s
— Sanjay Seth (@sanjayseth) April 1, 2015
NYPD detective Patrick Cherry's verbal abuse of the Uber driver has sparked another debate about the need to reform law enforcement.
What do you think of NYPD detective Patrick Cherry's behavior?
Hows this for #BlueLivesMatter?
I’ve been a police officer for 26 years. This is disgusting! This total abuse of power did nothing but disgrace the NYPD by his actions. I hope people realize we (police officers) are not all like Mr. Cherry. Lead by example, Mr. Cherry. Use your signals and obey the laws you supposedly uphold. I find it funny that he mocks the driver’s accent, but he is so enraged over something so simple and silly that he (Cherry) can’t even form his own sentences because of his anger. He tripped over his words many times. Good thing they make blood pressure meds…he will need some after that!!
This is all part of the required cultural sensitivity training police officers undergo, learn how to respect and interact with immigrants in a positive and respectful manner that shows our law enforcement in only a good light.
this happens all the time but because they walk on water no one says a thing I am a law abiding person of color civilian an proud of it. An was i pulled of of my bike by a nypd detective in plain clothe who did
not identify himself. an was treated like garbage an laughed an cursed at by other cops who came with the wagon to arrest me.To only find out that at the time i seem to fit the description.This is very sad for all people of color who are only trying too mind their own business when in the streets we always seem to be a target all the time. ether its a quota day or they just don’t like you no matter what. An by the way i really don’t care who don’t like it .The civilian complaint review board dos not work for people of color. they are just a lightning rod to but your anger an disrespected feeling generated by nypd into another room to be filed under the word exonerated. This whole thing leaves a very very bad taste in your mouth. An you learn that while your in the streets you really really have no rights an anything you say even if god is right there Will be used in court against you because of their double standards. But its real funny how when something goes real wrong how they come to the very people that they hate an shoot 52 times an strangle an laugh at them when they go to their anti black neighborhood they ask us for help . even when they raided my house to find out that it was the wrong door the officer who did it with a stun gun in his hand could en look me in the face man to man to apologize to me instead while walking away said under his breath sorry for the inconvenience.Then again this only happens in black neighborhoods. god bless that cab driver he was lucky he was not shot.